Planoqraph co



C. SCHOCK.

V 'com CHUTE. APPLICATION FI'LED MAY 25, 1917. RENEWED MAR. 16| |918.

Patented July 29, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l l C. SCHOCK.

COAL CHUTE'.

APPLICATION FILED' MAY 25,19I7. IIENEwEn MAR. I5, Isla.

Patented July 29, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

"c. scHocKi COAL CHUTE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25. I9I7- RENEWED MAR. I6. 1918. l

1,3 1 1,622, Y Patented July 29, 1919.

THB COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHING'TON. D. c.

v VCLARENCE SCI-100K, MOUNT J OY, PENNSYLVANIA.

jcon.*Ii-cirugia.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application lcd May 25,1917, Serial No. 170,976. Renewed March 16, 1918. 1Serial No. 222,984.

ticularly to that class adapted to be used in` connection with storage plants or coal pook-- ets-7 and my object is to provide a chute of this class whereby anthracite coal or any fragile granular material may be lowered from any height and the breakage or disinte gration of the particles of coal or other.

fragile material reduced to a minimum. This ob]ect I attain by so constructing the chute that a portion Vof the coal will accumulate in the angle formed by the wall and flooring of theV chute, thereby providing a bed of coal over which the rest of the coal travels and offering resistance tothe flow of the coal sufficient to plevent violent or rapid movement or impact which would result in undue breakage, the resistance caused by the accumulated coal in the angle formed by the wall and flooring results in the coal flowing down the same way as it would naturally-do on the side of a pile without the danger of breaking or disintegiating the particles of the coal.

Another object of this invention is to provide the chute with a novel form of feeding hopper.

Another obj v or the like for the coal chute, whereby the stored coal which has been delivered thereto y by the chute may be conveniently-loaded into wagons, carS, Vor like vehicles.

yThese and other objects and advantages will more fully appear as the nature of the invention is more 4clearly understood from the following description taken in connece tion with the several Vvie-wsof the accom-V panying drawingsiwherein I have disclosed one embodiment ofmy invention.y but 'which is susceptible to numerous alterations and.-

variations therein from time to time to meet the exigencies of easewitheut departing ect is to provide a storage bin from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the appended claims. i

Y In the drawings,

F igurel 1 is a side elevation of the chute.

Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the construe tion forming the base of the chute.

Fig. 3 is a top view of the structure shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is afragmentary side view ofthe upper portion of the chu-te showing-another farm of feeding hopper which I may emp Oy.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary rside view of .the lower portion o'f the chute, showing the same in operative position -upon -a storage bin or the like.

I desire to here state that for .the purpose of clcarness and convenience in illustrating my invention I have adopted .the form and.

construction shown in the drawings and will speciiically'describe the same, l.but it is to be understood that I am not tobe limited to the exact form, construction and arrangement of the partsnory to the character of materials,

the dimensions of the parts, nor vthelspeciiicV manner of assembling and securing together of the parts, as hereinafter described', as I may form the parts of the chute of any suitable material such as wood, metal, concrete, or plastic composition and of any suitable and desired dimensions of the Aparts .as well as construct the chute of any Ydesired width and height by increasing or decreasing the number of the parts thereof.

Referring tothe drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote correspondf ing parts throughout the several views,y 1 denotes the base or sill of the chute which is preferably formed in Athe shape of a ring and suitably vsecured upon the base or sill 1, as by mortising and the like, are the timbers or standards 2 which form the first-,tier of standards of the chute. for example, are .three inches by four inches in cross measurements, but the standards 2 are formed of different lengths, for instance, there is shown, for illustration, sixteen 0f these standards 2, .the .first or shortest standard beingpreferably two fcetlong, while each Vsubsequent standard is formed six inches longer than the next preceding standard, so that the last or longest standard willv` be nine and one-half feet. long. so forininf the standards- 27 $11.911* HBP@ @nds from .Patented .Juiy'ea 191e..

These standards 2,V

` Table securing means.

the shortest to the longest will terminate -in a manner to form lan upward spiral course. rl`his constitutes the base portion or` first tier of standards for the/beginning of the construction of the chutei t Upon the upper ends of the standards 2 are positioned the lower ends of the timbers or standards 3 ofthe second tier of standards. These-standards 3 are also formed three inchesby four inches in cross measurements, but these standards 3, in practice, are all formed` of the same length` eight feet or a multiple ofy eight feet in this instance, but for the sake of illustration these standards have been shown in the drawings as being eight feet long.v However, certain of these standards 3 have been shown slightly shorter than the others in the drawings .due

to the lack of space, and in order to illus! tratev the'construction of the upper portion of the chute, the lower ends of the standards 3 are secured tothe upper ends'of the stand-` the contiguous ends of the standards 2 Vand 3f project a plurality of bolts 5 orother suit--Y However, these ends V ing and the like.

Any number of tiers offthe standards 3 may be placed one upon the other-until the chute has been built up to the desired height,` but the single tier of standards 3, 'as shown in the drawings, will suliice to illustrate the 'i purposes and intent of the invention, and

with this object in` view, which is believed to'be clearly 'set forth, there is shown positioned'upon the upper ends of the'standards p er ends of the standards 3 of the second tier in the same manner that the lower ends of the standards 3 are secured to the upper Y ends of the standards 2. The standardsI 6 upper ends willgl'ie substantially in a horizontal plane for receiving the plate which yis suitably secured upon the upper ends of the standards 6 and which may be formed of any` desirable shape soflong as there is. an ample central opening'thcrethrough for'Y discharging coal or other fragile. material" vinto'the intake hopper .formed in the upperf` portion of the standards 6 of the upper tien,

the vhopper comprising the .annular side wall 8 secured to the innersides of the standards 6 in any suitable manner and is formed with Y rtthe Straight upper edge whichpreferably contacts with the under lsurface of the plate 7 Mand the lower inclined edge 9 upon which is secured the inclined bottom 10 which is reinforced by the supporting band 11 therebeneath and which band 11 is suitably secured to the adjacent inner' surfaces of the standards 6, the band 11 also reinforcing the standards 6 in addition to the reinforcing .struts or brace bars 12 suitably secured te and spacing the upper' ends of the standards 6. Y

The foregoing describes the mainframe ofthe chute and within this frame are the plurality of superimposed supporting bars 14k formed, as forexamplesix inches in width and of any suitable thickness and disposed one above the other in vertical edgewise position. The bars 111 have one of their ends secured to one lside of the respective standards 2, 3 and G and have their opposite endssuitably secured upon the side of one of the standards V2, 3 or 6 diametrically opposite to the standards to which the first-- mentioned endsof A'the bars la are secured, the bars 14 being disposed diametrically across'from standard tostandard in an upwardly inclined direction land preferably inclined substantially six inches to the foot or at an angle ofsubstantially twenty-two and one-halfdegrees and have their respective ends secured to the same or corresponding sides of the standards 2, 3 and 6 and each successive bar v14k is disposed so that its same conical surface with the upper edge of the next preceding bar but with the upper edge of each successive bar being elevated above the uppei' edge of the next preceding bar substantially six inches thereabove and as the standards 2, 3 and 6 are, for example,

spaced twelve inches apart from center to center, the respective ends of the bars 11i will be advancediii an upward spiral direction, so that the bars 14 will cross each other at a point along the vertical axis ofthe chute and provide main bracing members for the respective standards 2, 3 and 6, For

example, the lowermost end of the lowermost bar 1a is secured upon a side of the shortest of the standards 2 atany suitable point above the base or sill 1 ofthe chute and extends obliquely upwardly at an inclination of substantially twenty-two and one-half degrees or a rise of approximately six inches tothe foot and has its opposite or uppern'iost end,v secured tok a corresponding' side of the standard diametrically opposite to the shortest standard 2, and the suc-V cessive bars are likewise secured to each succeedingpair of standards upwardly to the upper portion of the chute or until the uppermost bar 14 contacts with the bottomv 10 of the hopper, andvat one side of the opening 15 iformed .in the bottom 10` of the hopper, which opening is controlled by the sliding valve or gate 16 actuated by y.As itis preferable to also reinforce the lower edge will lier approximately in the standards 3 of the second or intermediate tier to insure their stability, the reinforcing struts or space bars 13 are provided which are secured to and eiiiciently space the standards 3 at any suitable and desirable point but preferably in a manner to position the reinforcing struts or space bars 13 in horizontal alinement with each other.

The diagonal braces 14 act bothy as supporting .members for the floor of the chute and reinforcing members for preventing lateral movement of the standards 2, 3 and 6. The addition of the space bars 13 which act as wedges andare driven in place from the outside of and to place between the standards 3, puts a tension on braces 14 and makes the whole structure taut and rigid. Braces 111 are put in place first and the wedging space bars 13 are put in lplace afterward, the last one of each circle ofthe =bars 13 being driven home tight and making the complete'circle taut and rigid. This method of structure' with :the braces 14 of'correct length and cori'ectly located on standards 2, 3 and 6, and followed by insertion of the wedgingV brace bars 13 not only makes a rigid construction but -insures the .perpendicular'of the structure. If the base to start with level and Iall parts are correctly cut and placed, the structure musty come plumb; it will not go :together any .other way.

Secured upon the inner sides of thestand-V ards 2, 3 and G and connecting` the standards in pairs are the plurality of cleats 18VY being honizontally disposed with their upper edges lying iin a plane 'with the-upper edge ofthe lower preceding -bar 141 `but'beneaththe lower edge ofthe next upper succeeding bar 14. The cleats 18 not only aid materially in lrein-forcing the standards 2, 3 andq .but also provide supports for the lower ends of the bars 1&1.

' Suitably secured upon the upper edgeso the bars 14- andthe upper edges of the cleats 18 are the steps 19 lconstituting the spiral iioorlof the chute. These steps or treads 19 are of substantially triangular form and ex-V tend'froin the inner sides of the standards 2,.3\and 6 upwardly and inwardly along the lowermost inclined portions of the bars 14 and have their apexes at the vertical axis of i the chute, that is, at the point where the bars 14 intersect andfcross each other. These steps forming the spiralfloor of the .chute are, for example, twelve inches wide'at their outer' ends andgradually diminish in width untilY they zbecome pointed at the vertical and formed of a sufficient height tomeet the needs of a given case, and while 'I have shown as individual wall for each step or tread 19, l may form a continuous spiral wall from the top to the bottom of the chute. By so forming the steps of the chute flooring, Athe same is inclined downwardly and outwardly from the vertical axis of the chute to its periphery, so that when coal or other fragile material is discharged through the opening 15 of the hopper upon the uppermost step 19 the coal is forced to flow to lthe outer edge or periphery of the spiral stepped floor, where it lodges in the stepped V-shaped trough formed by the sloping steps 19 land the retaining wall 20. The pitch of the spiral flow at its outer edge or periphery should be less than the angle of How of the material to be lowered. The surface of the floor, being stepped prevents the coal from sliding as would be the case if the floor ofthe chute were a smooth steel helical surface. Furthermore, the angle between the sloping floor 19 and the retaining walls 2O act as a wedge to hold a body of coal. This body of coal or other material will be retained yuntil the vincreased quantity of it brings the inner spiral edge of the body ofrcoal closer to the central axis of the chute, and consequentlyvinto a steeper pit'ch until this inner edge ofthe retained body of coal or other material reaches a pitch equal to or slightly lgreater than its natural angle of flow, and then it will flow down spirally just as it would flow down on the side of a large pile. The step underneath the coal will be practically invisible and the flow will be,y smooth and natural and at an easy speed. As the flowingV coal reaches the top of theaccumulatedpile around its base it will come easily and at an `almost imperceptible angle intocontact with the surface of such pile. Zhen the bed of coal in the chute is complete from top to bottom, the iiow of additional coal` down the chute is just as natural asonfthe side of a pile.

In Vthe construction herein shown the pitch ofthe helicoid surface at periphery is 6 inches tothe foot. The steps 19 reach to a point inY line with the vertical axis and here the helicoid surface reaches its verti-r cal limit. lFor the lowering of coal Vthese steps would not need to extend inward from the wall 20 more than one-half the distance to the central axis. Such construction would provide a pitch of 12 inches to the foot or 15' degrees at the inner edge of the steps or vhelicoid .surface which would be amply 'steep enough to provide room for movement of the coal without spilling over, the natural angle of flow of anthracite coal being somewhere between 25 degreesand 30 degrees.

The chute is constructed with steps reach-V ing to the centralaxis for the purpose of making it stronger, the steps so Vmade increasing the strength. The steps need only extend toward the central axis far enough to provide a slope sufficiently steeper than natural angle of flow of material to insure safe lowering flow without spilling over the inner edge and'falling a distance sufficient to cause undue breakage.

Other forms of floor canv be used, the width of steps can be decreased, the height of each rise can be made less, steps could be made two inches wide and rises one inch high, or the floor could be a true helical surface of metal or plastic material sloping radially from central axis to periphery. The elemental idea is the saine as in a spiral stair-case with the notable dierence of the sloping steps from axis to periphery, radially. The spiral stair-case is generally built with a central post or its equivalent. If this chute were built after the manner 0f the spiral stair-case the diagonal braces 14C would terminate atvthe central axis and this central axis would be a round post to which. such half length braces 14 would be attached. It was in an attempt to so build this chute that the idea of ruiming the braces 14E clear across to the opposite standard was discovered. It makes all the difference in the world in the staunch construction of the spiral steps or helical surface whichever it may be or be designated. All other forms of construction as usually employed in spiral omy of cost, strength and endurance.

In lieu of the hopper shown in Fig. 1, I`

may employ the hopper shown in Fig. 4L of the'drawings and in this instance there is provided in the upper portion of the chute and extending obliquely to one side from the Vwhich the lower portion of the chute is mounted, and the bin 27 is supported a sufficient distance above the ground by the frame 2S supported by any suitable number of standards 29 suitably braced to the frame 2S by the diagonal bars 30. Upon the bottom of the bin 27 and extending for al distance therebelow is the cone-shaped hopper 31 pro-vided with the discharge spout 3Q, the openingl of which is controlled by the swinging gate 33 actuated by the handle 34, so that when the gate is swung around sufliciently to open the spout 32, the coal or other fragile material may be discharged into a wagon 35 driven therebeneath, or in lieu of the wagon 35, the coal may be loaded upon a railroad ear upon tracks which may be laid to pass between the standards 29 and beneath the hopper 31 of the bin 27.

In my chute my plan has been to provide a chute on which the coal will roll down or flow down as it naturaly does on a large pile; and at the same time construct it at a pitch equal to or greater than the natural repose or the angle of flow so as to avoid any ypossible congestionl at the bottom of the chute. I accomplish this result by giving the chute a lateral pitch from the vertical axis or central supporting members to the lower edge of the retaining wall or spiral flange, -thereby directing the coal from the vertical axis or the central supporting members against the outerwall or flange, insuring the descent ofthe coal at the lowest angle of pitch on the helicoid surface thereof at which it will ow, the fioo'r of the chute and the wall or flange forming a substantially V-shaped trough in which the c'oalwill bind in its descent and'retain a sufhci'ent bed of coal from -top to bottom upper edge of the uppermost of the bars 1495 ofthe chute to cause the descending coal toy to the plate 7 the inclined wall 21 to prevent roll or fiow down naturally as it does onfa the vcoal from falling through the Vwronglarge pile, thereby enabling meto construct side of the chute, and positioned within the the Achute with a circular pitch at'the inner opening of the plate 7 is the cone-shaped edge of the helicoid surfaceequal to or hopper 22 provided around its upper edge greater thanthe natural angle of flow of they with the outwardly extending ange 23 coal. adaptedto rest upon the upper surface ofj: Furthermore, if the helicoid surface of my the plate 7. Pivotally mountedV upon the chute be made sufficientlyV wide, the same hopper' 22 and beneath the central opening'chute will be adapted to diiferentrsizes Aand therein is one end of the trough 24: having glkinds of coal, having dierent natural angles suitably securedv upon its Vdischarge end Q5 flow, just so the pitch is not too steep at the chain, cord, or other suitable means 26 theperiphery of the helicoid surface to infor Vraising and lowering the discharge end sure the retention of a sufficient bed of coal 25 of the trough 24, and in this instance"v when. the discharge end L25 of the trough g, for the size or kind which Vflows at the lowest ,angle. In case'of coal flowing at arsteeper 24ris lowered, vthe coal from the hopper 22 angle, thechute will simply retain a'larger will be discharged upon the uppermost step 19 and the coal will flow downwardly' through .the chute in the manner above de-` for wider continuous bed of coal from top to bottom, and the increased pitch of the helicoid surface as it approaches the central axis will Y insure the easy and natural flow of the coal requiring a steeper pitch.

^ In Vchutes of that class where the circular pitch is less than the natural flow of the coal f it will be seen that when the'bin or pocket has been filled with coal the whole weight of thevolume of coal will be directed upon the chute upon starting to remove Vthe coal from the bin and unless the chute is substantially braced it will be crushed by vthe Weight of tiie coal, while in my construction the volume of coal would move oif the chute at its natural flow thereby producingno undue weight thereon.

By this construction the coal or other material will flow in a. continuous stream around the chute and over the floor of the bin without any sudden stops or vfalls and will continue its equal flow from the top to the bottom of the chute at whatever height the chute may be built.

lVhen the chute is constructed as shown in the several views, the pitch of the chute floor adjacent the central axis will be greater than at the outer end of the floor, so that should materials descending in the chute for any reason become clogged in the V- shaped portion thereof, that portion of the volume of material adjacent the column will continue to flow incident to the increased pitch of the Hoor, but at its natural angle of How, owing to the accumulation of material in the V-shaped portion of the chute.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A vertical spiral chute with downward lateral slope from its axis, the spiral pitch of the chute at its axial edge being greater than the natural angle of flow of the material conveyed, and the spiral pitch of the chute at its periphery being less than the natural angle of flow of the material conveyed.

2. A chute comprising a spiral floor and walls for said oor, said floor and said walls being composed of sections and secured to gether, the sections of the floor sloping laterally from the inner edge to the periphery, the spiral pitch of the floor adjacent the inner edge being steeper than the natural angle of flow of the material conveyed, and the spiral pitch of the chute at its periphery beving less than the natural angle of flow of the material conveyed.

3. A vertical, spiral or helicoid chute with downward, lateral slope from the inner edge to the periphery, and a retaining wall attached to the periphery of said chute, the surface of said chute being at an acute angle with the wall, the spiral pitch of said surface at its inner edge being steeper than the natural angle of flow of the material conveyed, and the spiral pitch of the chute at its periphery being less than the natural angle of How of the material conveyed.

4. A spiral chute the floor of which is formed in sections, said sections sloping downwardly in a radial line from their inner edges to their peripheries, said sections being in stepped relation to each other at in ner edge and periphery.

5. l A spiral chute having a floor formed of sections arranged in stepped relation to each other and having their entiresurfaces horizontal in thecircular direction of the floor, each of said surfaces sloping downwardly in a radial line from the inner edge to ythe periphery.

6. A spiral chute having a floor formed of sections arranged in stepped relation to cach other and having their entire surfaces horizontal in the circular direction of the floor but sloping downwardly in a radial line fromV the inner edge to the periphery, Vthe spiral pitch of the floor adjacent the inner edge being greater than the natural angle of flow of the material conveyed.

7. A spiral or helical chute, comprising a base, standards upon said base, bars connecting said standards, a fioor upon said bars, and a hopper upon said standards for delivn ering material to said floor to be conveyed to said base.

8. A spiral or helical chute, comprising an open base, standards upon said open base in spaced relation to the vertical axis of the chute, inclined bars connecting said standards, a stepped spiral floor upon said inclined bars and sloping downwardly from axis to periphery, and a wall at lthe outer edge of said spiral floor.

9. A spiral or helical chute, comprising an open base, a plurality of standards upon said open base in spaced concentric relation to the vertical axis of the chute, a plurality of transverse inclined bars connecting the oppositely disposed standards in pairs, a stepped spiral oor upon the lower portions of said transverse inclined bars and sloping downwardly from axial edge to periphery, and a wall at the outer edge of said spiral floor.

10. A spiral or helical chute, comprising an open base, a plurality of sectional standards upon said open base in spaced concentric relation to the vertical axis of the chute, said standards being formed to position their joints in a stepped spiral course, a plurality of inclined superimposed supporting and reinforcing bars consecutively crossing each other in the line of the vertical axis of the chute and consecutively connecting two of the diametrically opposite sectional standn ards in proximity to their joints, a stepped spiral Hoor upon the lower portions of said inclined bars and sloping downwardly in radial line from the inner edge to the periphery, and a wall at the outer edge of said sectional spiral floor.

1l. A spiral chute comprising a plurality of standards in spaced concentric relation to the vertical axis of the chute, a plurality of transverse inclined bars connecting the oppositely disposed standards in pairs, and a veyed, a iioor with downward lateral slope' from its axis, the spiral pitch ofthe chute at its axial edge being greater than the natural angle of How of the material conveyed.

In testimony whereof I have signed iny name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

CLARENCE SCHOCK`` Vitnesses ANNA DEARBEGK, CHRIST VALTERS.

Copies of this patent maybe obtained for five cents each, by addressing 'chel Commissioner of Patents,

. A Washington, D. C. 

